What did the Populists believe?

A common framework for interpreting populism is known as the ideational approach: this defines populism as an ideology which presents "the people" as a morally good force and contrasts them against "the elite", who are portrayed as corrupt and self-serving.

Explanation:

The platform also called for a graduated income tax, direct election of Senators, a shorter workweek, restrictions on immigration to the United States, and public ownership of railroads and communication lines. The Populists appealed most strongly to voters in the South, the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains.

Wounded knee massacre on December 29, 1890